Google Drive: Installing and using the utility

Automatically sync Google Drive files on your computer with your Google Drive files on the web using the Google Drive utility. You can drag files in and out of folders, as well as edit, save, and remove files within your computer’s interface. Any changes you make locally in your computer’s Google Drive folder will sync to My Drive on the web. That means if you share, move, edit, or move files to trash, your changes will also show in My Drive the next time your computer syncs.

Installing the utility

Windows

Go to google.com/drive/download to download the Google Drive utility. Click Download for PC. Review the Google Drive Terms of Service, and then click Accept and Install.

The download will begin. When finished, go the location where you downloaded the file, and open the file googledrivesync.exe.

If a message appears asking if you want to allow the app to make changes to your PC, click Yes.

The installation will begin. When it finishes, click Close.

If the Welcome to Google Drive window appears, click Get Started. If it does not, launch Google Drive from the Start menu.

Enter your full UCA email address, and then click Next.

To complete the login process, enter your UCA username and password, and then click Log In.

The installation wizard will tell you where the Google Drive folder is located and show you how to share your files directly from your drive. Click Next on each screen to continue.

On the Sync options screen, choose the option Sync everything in My Drive. Then click Next.

Finally, click Done.

You can access Google Drive easily using the icon on the desktop.

Mac

Go to google.com/drive/download to download the Google Drive utility. Click Download for Mac. Review the Google Drive Terms of Service, and then click Accept and download.

The download will begin. When finished, go the location where you downloaded the file, and open the file installgoogledrive.dmg.

Click and drag the Google Drive icon to the Applications folder.

In the Applications folder, double-click the Google Drive icon.

If a message appears asking if you are sure you want to open the application, click Open.

The Welcome to Google Drive window will appear. Click Get Started.

Enter your full UCA email address, and then click Next.

To complete the login process, enter your UCA username and password, and then click Log In.

The installation wizard will tell you where the Google Drive folder is located and show you how to share your files directly from your drive. Click Next on each screen to continue. Finally, click Done.

You can also access Google Drive easily using the icon on the top bar of your screen.

Storing files using the utility

With the Google Drive utility installed, double-click on the Google Drive folder shortcut on the desktop. This will open the Google Drive folder in a separate window.

Click and drag your cursor over all the files from the first folder to select them. Then click and drag the selected files to the Google Drive folder window. This will start the syncing process; depending on how many files you are moving, this process can take between a few minutes to several hours.

Going forward, make sure to open any files from your Google Drive, and make sure to save your work to your Google Drive. This will ensure all your work-related files stay secured on your Google Drive account.